Walks and Dates February 2015

Thursday 5th February 2015.

Annual Walk and Meal.

Raby and More.
Our meal choices are found below. You may wish to check to see that I have entered the choices correctly.
I intend to forward our choices on Sunday evening, so you have until then to let me know of any changes are needed.

I will tell the Wheatsheaf that those walking will arrive at the Wheatsheaf Inn at about 09-30, for a 6 mile walk, expecting to be back at about 12-30, ready for the meal to start at about 
13-00.
Those coming for the meal only should aim to get there some time between 12-30 and 13-00.
The Wheatsheaf Inn at Raby is about 12 miles from Upton and 15 miles from Saltney, so it should take you just under 30 minutes to get there, providing there aren't any major problems on the roads.

The Walk.

Raby and More.

Distance: 6.0 miles. Climb: 100' - Very little - walk profile is almost horizontal.

Start: Wheatsheaf Inn, Car Park. Raby. SJ310798.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m

This walk is a variation of walks by Anthony Annakin-Smith, that we have done starting in Willaston. One point to note, at this time of the year, gaiters are probably a good thing to wear!

Saturday 7th February 2015.

Llanfairfechan to Aber Ogwen and Back.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 200'.
Start: Llanfairfechan Promenade Car Park. Grid ref: SH679754.
Leave Chester at 08-30.
We have done this walk many times, and on occasions have taken advantage of the picnic tables at Aber Ogwen car park or even sheltered for lunch in one of the hides at the Spinnies Nature Reserve.
This is a very pleasant walk at this time of the year, although in the past we have experienced quite bracing winds! Coastal walks are always delightful, especially when you can combine them with a bit of birdwatching! High tides is about 12-30. This should make the birds come closer to shore for much of the walk.

Thursday 12th February 2015.

A Walk Around Hoylake and More.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 800'.
Start: Royden Country Park. Grid ref: SJ246858.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
To get Royden Park, follow the A540 from Chester to Hoylake. After passing Thursaston Hill and Caldy Rugby Club, turn right at the roundabout onto Montgomery Hill (signposted Frankby). At the Farmers Arms turn right to stone gate post into Royden Park.
This walk is taken from Jen Darling's book "More Pub Walks in Cheshire and Wirral.
Thia is a new walk for me, although much of it has been covered in walks that we have done. Part of the walk follows the beach from Red Rocks to West Kirby and then goes around the Marine Lake. High tide is at around 16-00 and isn't a big tide either, so we shouldn't have any problems walking along the beach.

Saturday 14th February 2015.

Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest.
Postponed.
It will appear next month after consulting with Celia!
The new walk will by a variant of the Thursday walk that we did last month called "A Circuit of Holywell."

 Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1865'.

Start: Tegg's Nose Country Park Car park. Pay and Display. Grid ref: SJ950732.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

This walk is taken from the "Pathfinders Guide to Cheshire". It is described as a varied walk with good views from Tegg's Nose. We will visit Tegg's Nose first, rather than at the end of the walk. The walk is also described as an undulating walk exploring the countryside on the edge of the Peak District.

Thursday19th February 2015.

The Moor, Greenfield Valley and East of Holywell.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1000'.
Start: Halkyn Street car park Holywell. (opposite the hospital). Grid ref: SJ18957548.
This is a figure of eight walk, combing one walk from Ron Williams and Elfed Jones' booklet " 10 Walks Around Holywell" and one walk from Dave Berry's book " Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain". The first walk explores the moor and valley to the North of Holywell and the other walk explores the undulating countryside between Holywell and Bagillt.

Saturday 21st February 2015.

Prestatyn to Talacre and Back.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 200'.
Start at Barkby Beach Car Park, park near the PC. Grid ref: SJ068839.
Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.
This is a walk that is always on the list at this time of the year, as it is always a good time to see Winter visiting birds along the coast., so bring binoculars with you. As a change, we will complete the walk in the opposite direction to the one that we will normally take. The walk will start along the coast, on the beach if the tide permits, High tide at about 12-30  (33.8' / 10.3 m.). The return from Talacre will be through the Nature Reserve  and Caravan park and finally through the golf course.

Thursday 26th February 2015.

Around the Little Orme to Rhos On Sea.

Postponed - recent very high tides means that it is very unlikely that any seals will around Porth Dyniewaid.

See below for the new walk.

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 700'.
Start: Roadside parking next to Paddling Pool and PC on Coast Road at Craig y Don, East side of Llandudno.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This has become a regular walk at any time of the year, but it will be the second time that we have done it February. The views from the top of the Little Orme are always superb, but the main reason for doing the walk so early in the year is to see if there are any Seals around Porth Dyniewaid.

Moel y Parc and Penycloddiau.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 1800'.

Start: Layby in Aberwheeler on left opposite Bro Lleweni (road). Grid ref: SJ096694.

Leave Chester at 09-00. The last time we did this walk it took us nearly six hours.

This a walk that we have done several times before, and includes two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills". He describes it as a walk exploring attractive and little known valleys along the slopes of Moel y Parc. Expect good views from the summit of Moel y Parc and Penycloddiau if the forecast is good. The route across the top of Penycloddiau is from North to South, another location for panoramic views.

Saturday 28th February 2015.

Leasowe Lighthouse to New Brighton.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 200'.

Start: North Wirral Coastal Park car park. Grid ref: SJ257915.

To get to this car park, instead of turning left towards the lighthouse, as the A551 turns right onto Leasowe Road, go straight on (past PC block on right and cafe/snack hut on left). This car park has a good tarmac surface.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This is a walk along the beach to Perch Rock Fort, assuming that the water on the incoming tide is low enough. It should be, Low tide is at about 12-32!  From there, we will continue onto Vale Royal Park (where we in the past have had lunch) and onto Wallasey Gardens. Hopefully it won't be as windy as it was on the 15th January when the Thursday group last did the walk.